It's never too late to make new friends and visit new places, as Maggie Connors, 65, discovered when she became a sighted guide, supporting people with visual impairments to travel the world.
Forced into retirement after a difficult few years of running an off-licence and dealing with multiple robberies, Maggie had lost her confi dence. "For two years my life consisted of four walls and the television. I changed from being a happy-go-lucky person to being a scared person who couldn't face leaving the house. My children were all grown up and had lives of their own, while most of my friends are not very adventurous."
Having manicured her garden and read a library of books, Maggie was looking around for new activities when she spotted an advert for sighted guides. "No qualifications were needed, just a good sense of humour." A week later Maggie had received a brochure, packed with adventure holidays, skiing trips and promises of sun.
"I applied to go to Gambia. Since then I have been to Guatemala, Costa Rica, New Zealand and many other places. Meeting all my blind friends has changed my life - they accept me for who I am, and vice versa. We've had so many adventures together, such as sky diving and white-water rafting - I would never have done these things before, but now I feel like life's just started!"
Find out more about sighted guide holidays at www.vitalise.org.uk
